page 2 kitsapweek Friday, August 23, 2013
Ospreys are back and herons are happy Eagles, which often snag heron chicks, find their match in this agile, aggressive raptor
with marauding eagles, and are agile and aggressive enough to make even the boldest eagle think twice about provoking them. Osprey nests are protected by law. This is especially good news for the herons, but can be a headache for the crews maintaining the By Gene Bullock cell towers, playing-field KITSAP WEEK light towers and power transmission poles that spreys are thriving have become nesting sites in Kitsap County. for a growing number of And nobody is hapospreys. Ospreys nestpier about it than our local ing next to power lines great blue herons. and transformers are As eagles multiply and occasionally electrocuted, fish stocks decline, eagles sometimes resulting in have shifted their diet to power failures and costly other birds. Pairs of eagles problems for the linesmen have learned to coordinate responsible for fixing their attacks on them. waterfowl and Fish are a nesting birds. favorite food Cover While one adult source for lures an adult Story ospreys, herons heron into a and eagles, so defensive attack, conflict is unavoidthe eagle’s mate able. In many states, peoswoops in and grabs one ple befriend local ospreys of the young. Eagles have and help prevent power wiped out entire heron failures and related hazrookeries. ards by erecting separate Great blue herons are poles with nesting platstill abundant, but they’ve forms. These platforms been forced to adapt to sometimes become comthis growing threat. One munity projects to support tactic is to seek secluded wildlife and minimize nesting sites, and abandon conflict. exposed rookeries. The Partnering for mutual other tactic is to nest in protection is not unique the vicinity of ospreys, to ospreys and great blue which have little patience herons. During the winter,
Ospreys build a nest atop a cell tower on 4th Avenue in Poulsbo. In many states, people befriend local ospreys and help prevent power failures and related hazards by erecting separate poles with nesting platforms. These platforms sometimes become community projects to support wildlife and minimize conflict.
O
File photo / April 2011
On the cover: An osprey catches a fish. Phillip Hansten / Contributed
to soar. As a result, puffin colonies and other species of nesting birds were decimated by gulls. Puffin parents fly long distances out to sea to find fish and bring them back to their nestlings. Feeding hungry young puffins is a big job, requiring both parents to spend long periods at sea, leaving their young vulnerable and unprotected. Arctic terns congregate in busy nesting colonies with lots of activity. Although they are one of the smaller terns, these birds aggressively attack
many species of birds travel in mixed flocks. All benefit because some species are better at finding food and other species are better at sounding the alarm when predators approach. On Machias Seal Island, off the coast of Maine, Atlantic puffins nest in close proximity to Arctic terns for protection. The puffin’s No. 1 enemy is gulls that prey on their eggs and young. Until cities and towns took steps to clean up the problem, open garbage dumps caused gull populations
all invaders. Resident wildlife biologists wear hard hats and carry sticks, and still bear head wounds from these attacks. The stick is not a weapon. It is held above the head so the tern will attack the stick instead of the scalp. Many believe our earliest relationship with dogs began as a similar pact. Early hunters allowed dogs to feast on the remains of their kills. The dogs, in turn, warned them of approaching dan-
ger and helped drive off other animals that threatened them. As the relationship evolved, they learned to hunt and work together. Sometimes people wonder whether man domesticated the dog or if it was a mutual arrangement worked out over millennia. Either way, that bond has never been stronger than it is today. — Gene Bullock is newsletter editor of the Kitsap County chapter of Audubon
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Sudoku
Kitsap Week Sudoku
Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place therating numbers Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty 0.59) 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.
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www.HoodCanalScots.org
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Discovery Fee has been Waived
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8 8 5
PLENTY of PARKING
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Medium, difficulty rating 0.59
ANSWERS
Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Thu Jun 25 18:50:07 2009 GMT. Enjoy!
1 7
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1 4 7 9 6
9 2 8 5 3 4
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Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.59)
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The Gathering of the Clans Celtic Entertainment Pipe Bands & Celtic Dancers Scottish & Celtic Vendors Highland Games Demonstrations Food Vendors & Beer Garden Working Sheep Dogs
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